5.0 HO VS NON-HO Question

[82LTDQS]

I have an 82 LTD with a tired 302 (carb). I went to the local junk yard and noticed the 5.0 non-HO motors were a dime a dozen. I located about 10 at this U-pull it junk yard alone. I want to pull, rebuild, modify, and install an 1987 and up 5.0 HO for my car, but they seem to be hard to find. My questions are as follows: Could I do the same with a non-HO motor??? Are the non-HO motors roller cam? What can be done (if possible) to convert the non-Ho 5.0 to a roller HO 5.0? Is it even worth it? Would it be worth modifying a non-HO motor?

Please advise, thanks

[Tiggie]

'86+ Lo-Po (non-HO) 5.0L are roller cam.

The differences are as follows in an HO vs Lo-Po:
- Heads: HO uses E7TE heads, Lo-Po (and '86 HO) uses E6SE heads. E7's flow better than E6's, and E7's flow similar to your current heads (E7's have smaller combustion chambers though)
- Camshaft: HO uses a unique grind with more lift/duration than the lo-po. Both are roller cams
- Upper Intake and Throttle Body (and EGR spacer): HO TB is 60mm (58 for '86) vs 50mm (I think) for Lo-po, and the upper intakes are different to accomodate this difference. Lower intakes are the same.
- Exhaust Manifolds: HO uses what most refer to as tubular shorty headers, while the lo-po uses cast iron manifolds
- Pistons: HO uses Forged ('85-'92) or Hypereutectic ('93-'95) pistons, lo-po uses cast pistons
- Injectors: Lo-po got 14lb injectors, HO got 19lb

That pretty much covers the biggies.

Lots of people on here have converted lo-po's to HO's. You can do the same and it may be worth it, depending on prices. It's not hard at all if you are staying carb'd. You can pick up a lo-po, and convert to an HO by changing the heads, cam, and exhaust. Use 4-bbl intake and carb, you'll probably have about 220 horsepower to the rear wheels maybe more, as opposed 120ish you are getting back there now if you are lucky. You'd need an HO cam (I think one is for sale in the For Sale forum right now), a different set of heads (you current ones will work, but I suggest a rebuild), and exhaust (Fox-Mustang unequal length shorty headers).

EDIT: Have you looked into 5.0L truck motors? From '87-'96, they had E7TE heads and were roller cam. All you'd need to do is swap the cam and handle the exhaust. Along with the 4-bbl swap to get the most out of it.

[Spaz]

remember the HO has a different firing order

[mrltd]

That makes no difference in a buildup. It's determined by tha camshaft and camshaft only.

[1987cp]

If you're starting from a 302 and don't mind not being electronic, I think you'd do great to stay carbureted. I actually bought my '79 in part because I wanted to play with a car that came from the factory with a carburetor. Assuming your motor is in good mechanical shape (which you seem to suggest it may not be), there's power to be had by getting '86-up HO exhaust manifolds with either 2" or 2.25" dual exhaust and any mild four-barrel carb and intake combo. For a rebuild, Crane makes some great short-duration cams in both roller and non-roller configurations, so you can even build a very stout street motor using your existing core. Decent factory heads like the E7TE or F3ZE can be had for reasonable prices if you know who to talk to, like possibly a GMN member in your general area.

Were '82 low-po motors still using the abysmal D8OE casting, or was it updated in '80 or '81?

[Mr. Land Yacht]

oh and HO's have a different ECM...newer models had MAF...like 91+ IIRC.

[Tiggie]

Were '82 low-po motors still using the abysmal D8OE casting, or was it updated in '80 or '81?

Yes, the 302 used the D8OE-AB though 1984. The 351W used a D8OE-CB, and the 255 used E0SE-AB. 1985 was the E5AE-CA or -GA. And then you have the lovely E6SE.

[82LTDQS]

Well, I would like the HO, or a lo-po converted to HO, BUT with a D.U.I ingition and carb set up. What do you guys think about that. I would also like th HO's firing order? I hope there are not noobish questions. Im an EX GM guy.

[82LTDQS]

When I go to the U-Pull it place, is there a good way to tell by looking at the lo-po engine if it is a roller cam motor????

[86VickyLX]

remember the HO has a different firing order

Yup that follows the 351W's firing order 1372648

[86VickyLX]

I have an 82 LTD with a tired 302 (carb). I went to the local junk yard and noticed the 5.0 non-HO motors were a dime a dozen. I located about 10 at this U-pull it junk yard alone. I want to pull, rebuild, modify, and install an 1987 and up 5.0 HO for my car, but they seem to be hard to find. My questions are as follows: Could I do the same with a non-HO motor??? Are the non-HO motors roller cam? What can be done (if possible) to convert the non-Ho 5.0 to a roller HO 5.0? Is it even worth it? Would it be worth modifying a non-HO motor?

Please advise, thanks

Yes the Lopo engines can be changed to H.O.s, as everyone has said you'd need

Heads: HO uses E7TE heads, Lo-Po (and '86 HO) uses E6SE heads. E7's flow better than E6's, and E7's flow similar to your current heads (E7's have smaller combustion chambers though)

- Camshaft: HO uses a unique grind with more lift/duration than the lo-po. Both are roller cams

- Upper Intake and Throttle Body (and EGR spacer): HO TB is 60mm (58 for '86) vs 50mm (I think) for Lo-po, and the upper intakes are different to accomodate this difference. Lower intakes are the same.

- Exhaust Manifolds: HO uses what most refer to as tubular shorty headers, while the lo-po uses cast iron manifolds

- Pistons: HO uses Forged ('85-'92) or Hypereutectic ('93-'95) pistons, lo-po uses cast pistons

- Injectors: Lo-po got 14lb injectors, HO got 19lb

GO EFI, I'd like to see it done. I've seen people go from EFI to Carb or CFI to Carb. I would love to see you convert it to EFI. All you would need is the wiring harness, the computer (H.O. one), fuel injectors (19lb as listed above) lower and upper intake(also H.O).
Electronic fuel pump, and a different timing cover(cause the carbed cars have a different timing cover). I probably missed some things, what else would he need?

[82LTDQS]

Thanks guys. 1987cp stated that I could bring my 82 302 back to life with a heads and cam swap. Would any of you guys advise beefing up my current 302? if so, then what do you guys recommend? roller cam and heads?

[82LTDQS]

I think I would like the EFI better.

[Nathan in MI]

Yup that follows the 351W's firing order 1372648

13726548.

[Tiggie]

Thanks guys. 1987cp stated that I could bring my 82 302 back to life with a heads and cam swap. Would any of you guys advise beefing up my current 302? if so, then what do you guys recommend? roller cam and heads?

From the sound of it, you'd need to freshen the engine before you do anything like swapping for a hotter cam.
The problem with the roller cam and your current block is that your current block (probably a D8AE casting like mine) is not roller cam compatible as you probably know. It's not like it's the end of the world, there's nothing wrong with a flat tappet cam for most people.

Be advised on the EFI swap that there is a lot of work involved. You'd need all the EFI wiring, relays, computer, sensors, manifolds (both intakes and exhaust), injectors, fuel rails, timing chain cover (maybe be able to use block off plate), heater hose tube that goes under the upper intake, the fuel reset switch, and some fuel line fabrication. And the know how to install it and get it running properly.

I still recommend a carb since your car is already carb'd. It's simple to install and someone around you is bound to know how to tune it if you don't.

How are you going to be using this car? I'm planning on something pretty similar to what you are (or were). If I don't find a reasonably price HO or Explorer 5.0 (you have checked around on those haven't you?), I have a fresh lo-po to base my build on. I have a HO cam to install, along with a Weiand Stealth 4-bbl intake and stock HO headers. I'm thinking about just keeping the E6SE heads because I'm more concerned with power at 2500rpm than 4500rpm. While it's hard to beleive, E6SE heads can make more power & torque @ 2500rpm than can a set of $1000 aftermarket aluminum heads. Wind it up to 4K+, and the aftermarket heads will blow the stockers out of the water. I never go past 4K, and rarely get above 3.5K so any increases above that are useless to me. I'll have more power at crusing speed, making my engine more efficent and potentially getting better MPG. Of course if I run into a set of E7's or GT40's at the right price, I might grab 'em.